Word
overridden
Phoneticsover·rid·den
US/ˈoʊvɝˈɹɪdən/
UK/ˌəʊvəɹˈɪdən/
Definition
v. to cancel or replace a decision, rule, or automatic setting because someone with more power chooses something else.
v. past participle of 'override'; to set aside a decision, rule, or automatic setting by higher authority or manual intervention.
Examples
“They have overridden the old rule with a new one.”
“The pilot has overridden the autopilot to land the plane manually in the storm.”
“After hours of debate, the committee's cautious plan was overridden by the director, who insisted on a bolder approach.”
Examples
simple
“They have overridden the old rule with a new one.”
contextual
“The pilot has overridden the autopilot to land the plane manually in the storm.”
complex
“After hours of debate, the committee's cautious plan was overridden by the director, who insisted on a bolder approach.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “overridden” in context.
Verb
01. be overridden
“Any automatic block can be overridden by a senior manager.”
aux + verb
02. get overridden
“Safety limits should never get overridden without approval.”
verb + verb
03. overridden by court
“The ban was overridden by court after a legal challenge.”
verb + prep + noun
04. overridden by parliament
“The executive order was overridden by parliament with a large majority.”
verb + prep + noun
05. overridden by system
“User preferences are often overridden by system during updates.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
06. automatically overridden
“Manual inputs are automatically overridden when autopilot is engaged.”
adv + verb
07. easily overridden
“Default passwords can be easily overridden by anyone with admin access.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. decision overridden
“Her original decision was overridden by headquarters.”
noun + verb
09. setting overridden
“Your privacy setting may be overridden after a software update.”
noun + verb
10. be automatically overridden by system
“Your manual adjustments will be automatically overridden by system overnight.”
11. can be overridden by majority
“The chair's ruling can be overridden by majority if members vote against it.”
12. have decision overridden on appeal
“They had their asylum decision overridden on appeal last year.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Pitfall
has overrode the system
has overridden the system
Overrode is the simple past; overridden is the past participle used after 'have' and in passives.
Real-World Examples
“A federal appeals court allowed her ruling to stand, only to be overridden by the Supreme Court on Friday.” “The algorithmic decision cannot be overridden by the assessor even if they believe the older person has been allocated a lower level of support than needed.” “Days before the IAT algorithm was rolled out, the department barred the IAT’s decisions from being overridden by assessors.” “Any sentimental attachment to human-created content is sure to be quickly overridden, I suspect, by the economic argument.” Etymology
From Middle English overridden, from Old English oferriden, past participle of oferrīdan (“to ride over”), equivalent to over- + ridden.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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